Doug Day in the Desert: Rebels defeat Arizona, 12-3, to force rubber game of Super Regional

TUCSON – After dropping game one of the Super Regional on Friday to Arizona — and with their backs against the wall — the Rebels looked to bounce back Saturday night against the Wildcats. And on Doug Day in the Desert, the Rebels came storming back in a big way, defeating Arizona, 12-3, to force a game three Sunday.

(Click here for box score.)

On the mound

As has been said many times, once again, Nikhazy did not disappoint. Although Nikhazy’s pitch count became a bit elevated through the first two innings with 54 pitches thrown, the Floridian settled in and took the Rebels into the sixth inning before giving the ball to Austin Miller.

Assisted by an eight-pitch, 1-2-3 inning in the third, Nikhazy earns the win and improves to 12-2 on the season. He finished with 10 strikeouts, three walks and two runs allowed.

Nikhazy’s 10 strikeouts moved him ahead of former Ole Miss pitchers Will Kline (134 in 2007) and Drew Pomeranz (139 in 2010) on the single-season strikeout list. Sitting at 142 on the year, Doug is just four off the program record of 146, set by Lance Lynn in 2007.

Here’s strikeout No. 1️⃣4️⃣0️⃣ on the season for @Dougnikhazy! He has surpassed Drew Pomeranz (2010) for 2nd place on the single-season strikeout list with 140 strikeouts this season. #HYDR #DougDay pic.twitter.com/jQrcT97BeC

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) June 13, 2021

Head coach Mike Bianco on Doug Nikhazy

That man is a WARRIOR.

Working in a jam, Nikhazy forces back-to-back outs including his tenth strikeout of the night!

💻 https://t.co/oV1ZBOmte8 pic.twitter.com/cdDLNDOhA4

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 13, 2021

Miller’s performance was crucial in setting the table for game three. He was extremely effective in relief, saving the Rebel bullpen for final game. The senior allowed just a single run in 3.2 innings of work en route to striking out six batters. “(Miller) had really good command and competed well,” Coach Bianco commented after the game.

Mid 8 | That curveball spittin.

2.2 IP | 2 H | 1 R | 0 BB | 4 K@wild_thang_50 | #RebsBSB

Ole Miss 12, Arizona 3 pic.twitter.com/ohodlqO0hJ

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 13, 2021

What Austin Miller did tonight is almost as important as what Doug did

Miller finishing off the game leaves basically Ole Miss’ entire bullpen available for tomorrow’s game. That can not go unnoticed and is HUGE

— Tucker Italiano (@TuckerItaliano) June 13, 2021

Peyton Chatagnier agreed. “I was really proud of him, he did a great job,” the second baseman said of Miller.

At the plate

The hit parade began early for the Rebels when Jacob Gonzalez led off the home half of the first with a solo home run to right field off the hitting center and over the home run line.

Leadoff bomb from the freshman!@jakegonzalez717 | #RebsBSB

💻 https://t.co/oV1ZBOmte8 pic.twitter.com/mPAeujRsbI

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 13, 2021

“He’s been an outstanding payer, as soon as he stepped on campus back in the fall,” Chatagnier said of Gonzalez. “He carries himself differently, with a lot of confidence.”

Gonzalez ended game two tied with Kevin Graham and Hayden Dunhurst for the team lead in hits with three for the game.

The big inning for the Rebels came in the second. Ole Miss would send 10 batters to the plate and post six runs on six hits, including a loud two-run double by Gonzalez and a two-run homer by Chatagnier.

OFF THE WALL AND GONE! 🗣#RebsBSB all over Arizona early!

💻 https://t.co/oV1ZBOmte8 pic.twitter.com/yEXZVkWoEa

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 13, 2021

The sixth inning saw a Kevin Graham-run on a wild pitch, a Tim Elko run on a sacrifice fly from Cael Baker, and an RBI-single by Dunhurst to score T.J. McCants.

Two more were scored by the Rebels in the fifth, when Graham singled home Gonzalez and Tim Elko hit a sacrifice fly to score Chatagnier.

In total, Ole Miss pounded out 16 hits with Gonzalez, Graham and Dunhurst having three hits a piece and Chatagnier, Elko, and John Rhys Plumlee contributing two each.

Defensive Play of the Game

The Defensive play of the Game came in the form of a strike ‘em, throw ‘em out double play in the sixth inning that once again featured the Rebels’ Buster Posey Nominee Dunhurst.

STRIKE-EM-OUT, THROW-EM-OUT

Miller ➡️ Dunhurst ➡️ Bench

We'll see ya.

💻 https://t.co/oV1ZBOmte8 pic.twitter.com/ky9zXQtztl

— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) June 13, 2021

What’s Next for Ole Miss 

Omaha is on the line, and this is what the guys have worked for all season. Neither head coach announced a starter for the rubber game in the postgame press conferences. Expect Drew McDaniel to start for the Rebels. The sophomore is 5-2 on the season, and has a 6.10 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 22 walks.

In a winner take all game, expect many pitchers to be used and the Rebels to clinch their way to Omaha for the first time since 2014.

Coach Bianco: "We'll be ready to play tomorrow, I promise you."

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) June 13, 2021

Peyton Chatagnier: "I think it's that dog mentality we have. We're a really gritty team. We like the challenge. It makes the winning more fun."

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) June 13, 2021

Doug on why he is so confident in this Ole Miss team: "The bats…the arms, just our relentless will to want to win these ballgames. The intangibles. We play our best baseball with our backs up against the wall. We showed that today, and I think we'll show that tomorrow." #HYDR

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) June 13, 2021

Nikhazy left us with one final thought: “I know my season’s going to end in Omaha.”

Hotty Toddy!

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)